Capello fine-tunes plans for World Cup qualifying
Last updated: 4th September 2009
Capello: Has worked wonders
England face Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday as manager Fabio Capello fine-tunes plans for crucial World Cup qualifying.
The Three Lions are on the brink of booking a place in next summer's finals in South Africa and will use this weekend's meeting in London as vital warm-up for Wednesday's home clash with World Cup rivals Croatia.
Capello has performed wonders since being appointed to restore the fortunes of the England national team and the Italian has a 100 per cent record in qualifying Group 6.
The 63-year-old, who is enjoying one last hurrah before retirement, has been hailed for his ruthless and professional approach after succeeding Steve McClaren in the wake of the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
Former AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid boss Capello is, therefore, highly unlikely to lose focus when Slovenia arrive on Saturday evening and will hope to build on the recent draw in Holland.
The England manager is expected to have already settled on his first XI for the meeting with Croatia and he could offer fringe players the opportunity to impress.
Captain John Terry may not be risked as the Chelsea centre-back, who signed a new deal with his headline-grabbing club at the beginning of this week, is a doubt with a groin injury sustained in training.
Injury-prone
Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand is not a part of the squad as he has a thigh problem, meaning Capello is without the services of an increasingly injury-prone, first-choice centre-back partnership.
With Tottenham's Ledley King also absent due to fitness problems, West Ham's Matthew Upson and new Manchester City signing Joleon Lescott could start together for the first time, while Rob Green should remain in goal.
Wes Brown, despite an injury scare during training, is competing with Glen Johnson for the right-back berth, while Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole, who has also put pen-to-paper on a new deal, should begin on the left.
Liverpool star Steven Gerrard looked back to his best in last weekend's win at Bolton and is set to skipper England from the heart of midfield if Terry is not risked, with Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and David Beckham also starting.
Wayne Rooney remains one of the first names on Capello's teamsheet and the United striker will aim to continue an impressive start to the season, where he has revelled in a more central role, alongside Aston Villa's Emile Heskey.
Slovenia sit third in World Cup qualifying Group 3 - behind Slovakia and Northern Ireland, and ahead of Poland and the Czech Republic - and kept alive hopes of reaching the finals with a 5-0 victory over San Marino in their last fixture.
West Brom's Robert Koren is a familiar face in manager Matjaz Kek's squad as he prepares his side for a qualifying fixture with Poland on Wednesday.
Possible England team: Green, Johnson, Lescott, Upson, A.Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Rooney, Heskey.
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